Modular frame construction and installation of bathroom fixtures



Jan. 25, 1966 G. MCMURTRIE ETAL 3,230,549

MODULAR FRAME CONSTRUCTION AND INSTALLATION OF BATHROOM FIXTURES FiledJuly 22, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY Jan. 25, 1966 s. MCMURTRIE ET AL3,230,549

MODULAR FRAME CONSTRUCTION AND INSTALLATION OF BATHROOM FIXTURES FiledJuly 22, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 6.

n K 25 C3 f F INVE TORS ATTORN EY Jan. 25, 1966 G. M MURTRIE ET AL3,230,549

MODULAR FRAME CONSTRUCTION AND INSTALLATION OF BATHROOM FIXTURES FiledJuly 22, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. 5.

INVENTORS Jan. 25, 1966 s. McMURTRlE ET AL 3,230,549

MODULAR FRAME CONSTRUCTION AND INSTALLATION OF BATHROOM FIXTURES FiledJuly 22, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent 3,230,549 MODULARFRAME CONSTRUCTION AND INSTAL- LATION OF BATHROOM FIXTURES GilbertMcMurtrie and Robert William Nagel, Louisville, Ky., and Edward WalterForth, New Canaan, Conn., assignors to American Radiator & StandardSanitary Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware FiledJuly 22, 1963, Ser. No. 296,574 4 Claims. (Cl. 4-2) This inventionrelates to a prefabricated modular frame construction for housing and/or supporting components, such as plumbing fixtures, heating and coolingunits, and cabinets, and to a method to facilitate construction andinstallation of a room having these components such as a bathroom,kitchen, laundry, rest room, or other type room.

The present invention is particularly well suited, but not limited, foruse in rooms of the type utilizing methods and fixtures such as thatdescribed in copending applications: Serial No. 296,559, filed July 22,1963; Serial No. 296,570, filed July 22, 1963; and Serial No. 296,571,filed July 22, 1963.

The prefabricated modular frame constructon of the present invention isadapted to be installed in a building and is designed to receive andsupport components, such as plumbing fixtures and associated elements,and to eliminate the necessity of having to install these components inor on pre-existing walls of the building as is the present practice. Thepresent invention may be used in constructing a bathroom, washroom, restroom, kitchen, laundry or other room whereby it is possible for men withsimple skills to install a complete room within a relatively very shortperiod of time as compared to present practices.

The present invention is especially well suited, but not limited, foruse with the type of integrated plumbing fixtures referred to in theforegoing applications, and accordingly, the illustrated embodiment willinclude bathroom fixtures and components although it is to be understoodthat the principles of the invention are equally applicable toconstructing other rooms having other components and fixtures such asthose mentioned above.

The framework of the present invention is precision formed and can beplaced and assembled in a building during or after construction of thebuilding and all installation of fixtures and components is accomplishedfrom the inside of the room. The fixtures and components, such asdescribed in the foregoing applications, are easily and quickly attachedto the framework to completely install the complete room in a merematter of hours. Since the present framework is precision made andassembly, when it is leveled, all components quickly fit into place incorrect leveled arrangement. The present framework also eliminates thenecessity of having to conceal such items as supply and drain piping inthe walls or floors of the building in Which the room is installed.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide animproved method and framework for building and assembling rooms withfixtures in a relatively short period of time.

Another object is to provide a precision framework as well as animproved method for making the same which will be easily leveled toreceive and support fixtures and associated components such as plumbingfixtures, piping, cabinets, lighting fixtures and heating and coolingunits without further levelling operations.

Another object is to provide a precision framework structure and methodfor making the same which is readily adaptable for use with differentfixture arrangements.

A further object is to provide an improved room having fixtures and amethod for constructing such a room wherein the room is attractive, ofhigh quality, versatile, easily transported, low in cost; and whereon-site construction time will be reduced.

Other objects and features of the invention will appear as thedescription of the particular physical embodiment selected to illustratethe invention progresses. For a better understanding of the presentinvention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings, whereinlike numerals of reference indicate similar parts throughout the severalviews and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a precision frame,manufactured according to the present invention for use in constructingand installing a bathroom.

FIGURE 2 is a partial enlarged perspective view taken as indicated bythe arrow in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a partial enlarged perspective view looking to the rearcorner of the frame as indicated by the arrow in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the frame shown in FIG- URE 1 showing thebathroom plumbing fixtures and components in place.

FIGURE 5 is a partial perspective schematic view of a rear portion ofthe frame.

FIGURE 6 is a partial view of the frame, wall and bathtub showing howthe latter is supported on the frame.

FIGURE 7 is a schematic front elevation on a reduced scale lookingtoward the lavatory and water closet unit assembly.

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of a bathroom constructed and assembledaccording to the present invention.

Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited in its application to thedetails of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of otherembodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also,it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed isfor the purpose of description of the embodiment used to illustrate theinvention and not of limitation.

Present methods of constructing rooms having plumbing fixtures requireon-site labor for installing the rough plumbing, installing andlevelling each separate fixture unit, enclosing piping and othercomponents in the walls of the building, fitting and attaching cabinetwork, painting and decorating. These jobs along with the overallfinishing work are performed separately by many skilled trades andrequire a complex arrangement of scheduling of the various trades sincecertain work must be completed before other work can begin.

The ceilings, floors, studs, and walls of such buildings are onlyapproximately level, plumb, squared and spaced, and individual plumbingcomponents have to be fitted individually into this structure, which ofcourse requires much time and skill.

The method and precision construction we have invented and disclosedherein avoids these problems since the frame can be easily and quicklyerected and leveled, and the plumbing and miscellaneous components,fabricated into integrated sub-components, are easily and quicklyattached to the framework from within the bathroom, thereby completingthe installation of a complete working bathroom in a mere matter ofhours.

Referring to the drawings, a plurality of rectangular precision builtframe sub-assemblies or frame units 10, a and 101) are secured to oneanother to form the complete frame structure shown in FIGURE 1. Each ofthese frame units, such as frame unit 10, is made up of upright members11a and 11b joined together at the top by the cross member 12a and atthe bottom by cross member 12b. Intermediate cross members, such as at12c and 12d may also be provided to strengthen the frame unit 10 andprovide means for supporting a plumbing fixture or associated componentsas will hereinafter be further described.

The individual members which make up the frame unit 10 are of suitablecross-sectional angular configuration such as U-shaped channels and theymay be made of any suitable rigid material such as, for example,aluminum. The individual members of each frame unit are connectedtogether in any suitable manner such as welding or by use ofconventional fastening means. Certain connections between these framemembers may be integral such as by using U-shaped channels and cuttingaway a portion of the legs of the U so that the member can be bent insuch a way that the legs of the U form a mitered joint such as is shownat 13a in FIGURE 1. These individual frame units are precision made in afactory using mass production techniques.

The precision made frame units are joined to one an other at theconstruction site to form a frame structure such as the frame structureshown in FIGURE 1. In order that the frame units be joined to each otherin accurate and precise alignment, suitable connecting means areprovided to insure that the precise relationships will be maintained.The connecting means may comprise pins such as dowell pins 13 and 16shown in FIGURES 2 ant 3, extending through accurately made andaccurately placed mating openings in adjoining upright members.

In the structure employed to illustrate the invention, precise matingopenings are provided in the abutting faces of the upright 11b of frameunit 10 and the upright 11c of the adjoining frame unit 10a. Thesemating openings receive a pin 13, which is of predetermined precisedimensions, such as a taper pin, dowell pin, or roll pin. This pin 13insures that the two frame units 10 and 10b are joined to one another inthe precise relationship desired. In order to securely fasten the tWoframe units 10 and 10b to one another after the pin 13 is inserted inthe openings, a second set of mating openings may be provided to receivea fastening member such as the nut and bolt 14. Thus the pin 13 servesto insure exact alignment while the nut and bolt 14 serves to hold theframe units together in such precise alignment.

The number and placement of these connecting means may vary as desiredto insure the alignment and strength desired. Thus a second connectingmeans may be provided at a lower portion of the upright members 11b and11c.

Certain frame units, such as the ones at 10a and 1022, may extend fromone another at right angles as shown in FIGURE 1. In such a case,uprights of adjoining members may have abutting faces so that theconnecting means described above may be used, or the adjoining membersmay be arranged such that the faces of two upright members extend at aright angle from one another as shown in FIGURE 3. In this latter case,one face of an angle bracket 15 may be joined to the upright lid offrame unit 10a such as by welding while the other face of the anglebracket 15 is provided With two openings in the upright lle of frameunit 10b. One set of mating openings receives an alignment pin 16, asmentioned above, while the other set of mating openings receives afastening member such as the bolt 17, this pin and bolt performing thesame function as the corresponding members in FIGURE 2 heretoforedescribed.

From the above description it can be seen, therefore, that a pluralityof frame units may be accurately and quickly assembled to form anydesired structural layout without requiring highly skilled labor. Aperson with simple skills can join the frame units in precisearrangement by inserting the pins and bolts in the preformed matingopenings.

While the assembled structure shown in FIGURE 1 is for use with abathroom, it is to be understood that the structure may be varied, inplan view, for use with other arrangements, sizes, or other type rooms.The individual frame units may be rapidly joined to one another at thejob site to form the structure of FIGURE 1 or sub-assemblies comprisingframe units may be assembled at the job-site to form the complete framestructure.

Once the structure is assembled as in FIGURE 1 in the manner describedherein, it is a relatively simple matter to level and shim the entirestructure on the floor or foundation of the building in which thestructure is to be installed. Since the structure is rigid and ofprecise dimensions and has been leveled and secured in place, it willnot be necessary to take a great deal of time to fit, adjust, and leveleach plumbing fixture and component, as they merely have to be insertedinto place.

Because the frame structure is precision made, precision assembled, andinstalled in a level disposition, the plumbing fixtures and componentsfit in place and will automatically be level when they are so installedon the frame. All the components will fit together as designed becauseof the precision inherent in the structure, and no time-consumingfitting, levelling, and adjustment problems will be required at the jobsite; and the entire operation can be completed in a relatively shortperiod of time by the application of simple skills.

The bottom cross members such as a 1212 are designed to rest on thefloor or suitable foundation of the building in which the bathroom is tobe installed while the upper cross members such as at 12a. may abut theceiling or other structural member of the building. A minimum number ofbasic frame width sizes may be provided so that when they are assembledthey will equal and agree with the module system of building currentlybeing used. Variations in the sizes of the bathroom can be accounted forby assembling a lesser or greater number of basic frame units.

The configuration or plan view of the arrangement shown in FIGURE 1,comprises two recesses or generally U-shaped sections 18 and 20. Thebath section 18 is made up of the end frames units 10b, 28 forming thesides or legs of the U and the side frame units 10, 10a. Thelavatory-water closet section 20 consists of the end frames 20a and 30and the back or side frames 20b and 20c. These sections extend at asuitable angle such as a right angle relative to one another. The oneU-shaped section 18 is adapted to receive and support a bathtub unitassembly 22 and the other, 20, is adapted to receive a combinationlavatory and water closet unit assembly 24 such as that shown in FIGURE4 and described in the aforementioned copending application Serial No.296,571, filed July 22, 1963.

The general U-shaped sections 18 and 20 are joined to one another alongthe frame uprights 11f, 11g, in a manner similar to that hereinbeforedescribed. One wall frame leg of each of the U-shaped sections asindicated at 28 and 30 (FIGURE 1) may cooperate with a corner 32 (FIGURE4) of a wall of a building in which the bathroom is to be installed todefine an area or space 34 for supply and drain piping, such space orarea being referred to as pipe chase area and will be further describedhereinafter.

The U-shaped section 18 of the frame has a plan outline conforminggenerally to the outline of the bathtub unit assembly 22 so that thebathtub unit assembly can be installed therein by sliding ittransversely into the open end of the U. In order to facilitateinstallation of the bathtub unit assembly 22 and to assist in supportingit on the frame, transverse frame members 36, 12d, 46 and 38 are locatedin the wall frames making up the U-shaped section 18. Each such framemember 36, 12d, 46 and 38 has support means such as an upward extendinghook or flange 40, 48, 50 and 42 respectively which receivescomplementary downwardly extending lips or flanges on the three insideflanges of the bathtub unit assembly 22. For example, this is more fullydescribed in our aforementioned copending application Serial No.296,570; and is also shown in FlGURE 6 wherein a bathtub flange 41 isshown supported in the flange 42 on the transverse member 38.

The bathtub unit assembly 22 is slid all the way into the U-shapedsection 18 of the framework and engaged with transverse frame members12d and 46 at the rear thereof. These transverse frame members 12d, 46,have upward extending lips or flanges 48 and 50 as mentioned above. Thebathtub unit assembly 22 also has a downwardly extending lip or flangealong its longitudinal rear edge which fits into the flanges 48, 50, sothat the weight of the bathtub unit assembly will be supported by thetransverse members 36, 12d, 46, and 38 of the frame. In this regard, itis to be noted that because the frame structure is accurately made andinstalled in a level disposition, the bathtub will automatically belevel when it is placed in the frame so that time-consuming adjustmentand levelling of the bathtub unit assembly is not required as wasformerly the case. It will also be noted that the bathtub unit assembly22 is supported above the floor so that the bathtub drain line (notshown) may be located at an elevation between the floor and the bottomof the bathtub thereby eliminating the requirement for any openings inthe floor for such a drain line.

If it is desired to provide shower facilities to function in conjunctionwith the bathtub, the frame may be provided with transverse members 52and 54 for supporting the shower head 56 and a mixing valve 58respectively for controlling the hot and cold water. An upstandingmember 60 is also provided on the transverse members 36 and 37 forsupporting a bathtub faucet 60a (FIGURE 8). The piping 62 between themixing valve 58 and the shower head 56 and the piping 63 between themixing valve 58 and the faucet 60a may be installed in place before theframe is shipped. As a consequence, the only plumbing work at the sitethat has to be done is to connect the hot and cold water lines 64 and 66with supply lines in the adjacent pipe chase area 34. The shower head56, the face portion of the mixing valve 58, and the bathroom faucet 60aare attached after the wall panel 89 has been set in place.

The bathtub 22 is provided with a prefabricated drain line (not shown)aflixed to the bathtub so that it is prealigned and can be readilyconnected to the drain pipe 68 in the adjacent pipe chase area 34. Theexposed area of the frame such as above the bathtub and above thelavatory may be covered with suitable paneling, such as at 89 (FIGURE8). A canopy lighting fixture 91 (FIG- URE 8) may be installed to extendover the bathtub as more fully described and claimed in theaforementioned copending application Serial No. 296,570.

The U-shaped section of the frame is shown in FIGURE 1 as being providedwith transverse frame members 70 and 72 having support means such asupwardly extending lips or flanges 74 and 76 respectively, adapted toreceive a downwardly extended flange (not shown) of the combinationlavatory and water closet unit assembly 24, such unit assembly beingmore fully described in our aforementioned copending application SerialNo. 296,571.

The engagement of these flanges is similar to that previously describedwith reference to FIGURE 6. Here again the lavatory and water closetunit assembly can be installed quickly since the precision made andpreleveled frame structure eliminates the time previously needed toadjust and level lavatories and water closets. The flanges engage andkeep the unit assembly in place and support the weight thereof as in thecase of the bathtub support. The water closet drain piping may beinstalled above the floor are more fully described in the aforementionedcopending application Serial No. 296,571.

A further descripion of the lavatory and water closet unit assembly isnot believed necessary here except to state that it is an integratedunit having a lavatory 25, water closet 27, and associated pipingintegrated into a single unit which is adapted to be held and supportedin place on the frame by the flanges 74 and 76.

The hot and cold water supply pipes 78, 80 (FIGURE 5) and drain piping83 in the pipe chase area 34 leads to one side of the adjacent lavatoryand water closet unit assembly 24 (FIGURE 4) and also to the adjacentbathtub unit assembly 22 (FIGURE 4). Thus all the supply and drain linesfor the unit assembly 24 and the bathtub unit assembly 22 are confinedin the pipe chase area 34. The paneling placed against the frameworkconceals the entire pipe chase area 34, thus eliminating the necessityof having to install such piping in the walls of the building. Thepiping in the pipe chase area may be supported by the frame. The pipingis designed and fabricated as a unit so as to facilitate complete abovethe floor and forward of the wall installation in contrast to theconventional method of individual fixture piping going both under andthrough the floor and walls.

The frame may be used to support a medicine cabinet 86 (FIGURE 8) andlavatory wall paneling above the lavatory and water closet unit 24, anda lighting canopy 90 thereabove.

The prefabricated frame is self-supporting and can be made into acomplete non-load-bearing wall by finishing the opposite side andextensions added above to tie to existing ceiling heights. If the frameis backed up to an existing wall or studs, it can be attached byadjustable metal angles on top.

The frame may be adapted to various design arrangements, conditions,functions, and exteriors from their presently illustrated position. Forexample, the lavatory and water closet unit assembly may be installed tothe right of the bathtub unit assembly instead of to the left aspresently illustrated. Other components may also be arranged for left orright hand functioning. The frame may be self-supporting such that itwill stand upright without any external support. Variations in roomceiling heights may be accounted for hp use of extendable fasteningmembers added to the top of the frame units as required. Theprefabricated frame may be installed in a room, if desired, as the lastitem in a new home instead of the first as in conventional methods ofroom construction. Also, the prefabricated frame may be installed inexisting buildings for modernization. In such instances damage to new orexisting buildings will be kept at a minimum since, as previously setforth, the fixtures and components need not be installed in or on theexisting building walls, floors, or ceilings and all piping isaccessible and above the floor.

From the above description it can be seen that the frame is constructedand arranged so that fixtures and components can be installed fromwithin the room thereby permitting all repairs to the various componentsto be quickly accomplished from the inside of the room.

The component parts of the frame may be manufactured in a factory usingassembly line methods. By utilizing this method of production andpackaging, the onsite labor for installing a room is considerablyreduced. Factory production will also permit a higher quality controlcompared to that which can be obtained on the job-site.

The frame is designed to provide versatility to meet changing conditionsas technology in the art advances. The frame is also designed to provideversatility to meet individual present day requirements. Certaincomponents of the frame may have symmetrical features so that the framemay be assembled into a right and left hand unit and shipped to buildersfor particular types of structure as needs arise.

Piping for fixtures to be used with the frame are designed to assure aminimum of joints. Sections of piping may be prefabricated in thefactory and attached directly to the frame. Factory assembly of thepiping will also offer the benefit of factory pressure-testedconnections.

Although in the illustrated embodiment the frame is not shown asextending completely around a room, further frame units may be added tofinish the entire room with the frame, or prefabricated panels may beused to complete the room. A prefabricated ceiling and floor may also befurnished with this unit.

From the above description it can be seen, therefore, that theprefabricated frame of the present invention greatly facilitatesconstruction and installation of a room. The frame is adapted tosupport, receive or house all of the fixtures and associated componentssuch as piping, a medicine cabinet, lighting fixtures, heating andcooling units, and electrical components such as wiring and switches.The frame may be used in a bathroom to support a bathtub unit assemblyas well as a water closet and lavatory assembly. The frame is precisionmade thereby making it possible to install these assemblies quickly onthe accurately made pre-leveled frame without requiring that eachassembly be leveled as it is installed. It is also possible to install abathtub drain line above the floor as well as to install a lavatory andcloset drain above the floor. The frame may cooperate with a corner wallof a building in which a bathroom may be installed to define an area orspace for the supply and drain pipes which can be completely concealedthereby avoiding installation of the piping in the walls or floors of abuilding as is the case in conventional construction methods. By usingthe frame of the present invention, major components may beprefabricated thereby reducing the time required to construct andinstall the room and to likewise obtain a customized and very moderninstallation.

The invention hereinabove described may be varied in construction withinthe scope of the claims, for the particular device selected toillustrate the invention is but one of many possible embodiments of thesame. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted to the precisedetails of the structure shown and described.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination of components to form abathroom within a building,comprising a plurality of presized rectangular modular frames, fasteningmeans joining said frames to form in plan view two recessed cubicleseach adapted to be mounted against a wall of the building and eachhaving one wall joined by said fastening means such that said latter twowalls cooperate with a corner of the building to define a pipe chasearea, said joined frames forming a stable self-supporting frame unitwhich can be leveled on the floor of the building on which it isinstalled, a bathtub structure, means for hanging said bathtub structureon said frame unit Within one U-shaped cubicle above the floor line ofthe building, a prefabricated lavatory and Water closet structure, meansfor hanging said prefabricated lavatory and water closet structure onsaid frame unit in the other U-shaped cubicle above the floor line ofthe building, a prefabricated piping assembly supplying water to anddraining water from said structures, means for hanging saidprefabricated piping assembly on said frame unit within said pipe chasearea, and means connecting said prefabricated piping assembly to saidstructures such that the supply and drainage piping for the bathroom isabove the floor and forward of the walls of the building.

2. The combination of components to form a bathroom within a building,comprising a plurality of generally planar modular frames, aligningmeans interengaging adjacent frames to be joined, fastening meansjoining said aligned frames, said frames being joined to form in planview two generally U-shaped cubicles each adapted to be mounted againsta Wall of the building and each having one leg joined to each other bysaid fastening means such that said latter two legs cooperate with acorner of the building to define a pipe chase area, said joined framesforming a stable selfsupporting frame unit which can be leveled on thefloor of the building on which it is installed, a bathtub structure,means for hanging said bathtub structure on said frame unit within oneU'shaped cubicle above the floor line of the building, a prefabricatedlavatory and water closet structure, means for hanging saidprefabricated lavatory and water closet structure on said frame unit inthe other U-shaped cubicle above the floor line of the building, aprefabricated piping assembly supplying water to and draining water fromsaid structures, means for hanging said prefabricated piping assembly onsaid frame unit within said pipe chase area, and means connecting saidprefabricated piping assembly to said structures such that the supplyand drainage piping for the bathroom is above the floor and forward ofthe walls of the building.

3. The combination within a bathroom, comprising a plurality of presizedrectangular modular frames, aligning means interengaging adjacent framesto be joined and providing precise desired alignment for said frames,fastening means joining said aligned frames, said frames being joined toform in plan view two generally U-shaped cubicles each adapted to bemounted against a wall of the bathroom and each having one leg joined toeach other by said fastening means such that said latter two legscooperate with a corner of the bathroom to define a pipe chase area,said joined frames forming a stable, self-supporting frame unit whichcan be leveled on the floor of the bathroom, a bathtub structureincluding supply and drainage piping, means for hanging said bathtubstructure on said frame unit within one U-shaped cubicle above the floorline of the bathroom, a prefabricated lavatory and water closetstructure including supply and drainage piping, means for hanging saidprefabricated lavatory and water closet structure on said frame unit inthe other U-shaped cubicle above the floor line of the bathroom, wherebythe supply and waste piping for said structures is above the floor lineof the bathroom, a prefabricated piping assembly supplying water to anddraining water from said structures, means for hanging saidprefabricated piping assembly on said frame unit within said pipe chasearea, and means connecting said prefabricated piping assembly to thepiping of said structures such that the supply and drainage piping isabove the floor and forward of the walls of the bathroom.

4. The combination within a bathroom, comprising a plurality of presizedrectangular modular frames, aligning means interengaging adjacent framesto be joined and providing precise desired alignment for said frames,fastening means joining said aligned frames, said frame being joined toform in plan View two generally U- p cubicles each adapted to be mountedwith their connectg leg against a wall of the building and each havingone leg joined by said fastening means such that said latter two legscooperate with a corner of the building formed at the intersection ofthe two walls against which Said Connecting legs are mounted to define apipe chase area, said joined frames forming a stable self-supportingframe unit which can be leveled on the floor of the building on which itis installed, a bathtub structure including supply and drainage piping,means for hanging said bathtub structure on said frame unit within oneU-shaped cubicle above the fioor line of the bathroom, a prefabricatedlavatory and water closet structure including supply and drainagepiping, means for hanging said prefabricated lavatory and water closetstructure on said frame unit in the other U-shaped cubicle above thefloor line of the bathroom, whereby the supply and waste piping for saidstructures is above the floor line of the bathroom, a prefabricatedpiping assembly supplying Water to and draining water from saidstructures, means for hanging said prefabricated piping assembly on saidframe unit within said pipe chased area, and means join- 10 ing saidprefabricated piping assembly to the piping of said structures such thatthe supply and drainage piping is above the floor and forward of thewalls of the bathroom.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,100,568 11/1937Norris.

FOREIGN PATENTS 240,550 8/1962 Australia. 1,151,649 2/1958 France.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

RICHARD W. COOKE, JR., Examiner.

L. R. RADANOVIC, Assistant Examiner.

1. THE COMBINATION OF COMPONENTS TO FORM A BATHROOM WITHIN A BUILDING, COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF PRESIZED RECTANGULAR MODULAR FRAMES, FASTENING MEANS JOINING SAID FRAMES TO FORM IN PLAN VIEW TWO RECESSED CUBICLES EACH ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED AGAINST A WALL OF THE BULIDING AND EACH HAVING ONE WALL JOINED BY SAID FASTENING MEANS SUCH THAT SAID LATTER TWO WALLS COOPERATE WITH A CORNER OF THE BUILDING TO DEFINE A PIPE CHASE AREA, SAID JOINED FRAMES FORMING A STABLE SELF-SUPPORTING FRAME UNIT WHICH CAN BE LEVELED ON THE FLOOR OF THE BUILDING ON WHICH IT IS INSTALLED, A BATHTUB STRUCTURE, MEANS FOR HANGING SAID BATHTUB STRUCTURE ON SAID FRAME UNIT WITH ONE U-SHAPED CUBICLE ABOVE THE FLOOR LINE OF THE BUILDING, A PREFABRICATED LAVATORY AND WATER CLOSET STRUCTURE, MEANS FOR HANGING SAID PREFABRICATED LAVATORY AND WATER CLOSET STRUCTURE ON SAID FRAME UNIT IN THE OTHER U-SHPAED CUBICLE ABOVE THE FLOOR LINE OF THE BUILDING, A PREFABRICATED PIPING ASSEMBLY SUPPLYING WATER TO AND DRAINING WATER FROM SAID STRUCTURES, MEANS FOR HANGING SAID PREFABRICATED PIPING ASSEMBLY ON SAID FRAME UNIT WITHIN SAID PIPE CHASE AREA, AND MEANS CONNECTING SAID PREFABRICATED PIPING ASSEMBLY TO SAID STRUCTURES SUCH THAT THE SUPPLY AND DRAINAGE PIPING FOR THE BATHROOM IS ABOVE THE FLOOR AND FORWARD OF THE WALLS OF THE BUILDING. 